USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 23
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All that day we traveled and passed many deserted houses with niee gardens, but no living thing in sight. Even the few hardy flowers that were left in the gardens looked sad and forsaken as we passed by. How desolate everything seemed. In the evening we stopped at a deserted farm house. There were a lot of stables around it and the log honse looked something like ours did. My sister thought we were home when she saw the honse.
When we got inside she looked around and asked, "Where is father and mother?" I was obliged to tell her the whole sad truth, that we would never see our parents again. She cried so hard that the teamster picked her up and carried her to sleep.
The next morning we started out early, as they wanted to reach Fort Ridgely that day. There were five or six horse teams which took the women and children. The rest of the teams stayed behind and got to the fort later. Everything went well umtil about noon, when all at once we heard shooting over the hill ahead of us. The teams all stopped and everything was in the greatest confusion. Some of the women and children wanted to run for the woods. Everybody was erving, some were praying and others were eursing. Just then we saw about forty Indians running for the very woods the women had been wanting to run to. One of the teamsters ventured to say that there were soldiers beyond the hill or the Indians would not be running, and so it proved, for just then a lot of soldiers appeared over the hill on horseback. One horse was carrying two soldiers. The officers said that they had met the Indians and had exchanged a few shots with them, resulting in the killing of one of the soldiers' horses. While the officer was talking one of the women cried out, "O look! There comes a whole army of Indians." We all looked in the direction she was pointing. and, sifre enongh, there were a lot of men on horseback. It seemed like a large cloud of dust coming in our direction like a whirlwind. We could not tell whether they were soldiers or Indians, but as they turned out to be soldiers we were all happy to see them. They had been out seouting and, hearing the shooting, came to see what the
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trouble was. After the excitement had died down no one seemed to eare for anything to eat so we resumed our journey to the fort.
About an hour after starting we saw a lone man coming across the praire toward us. As he came nearer Ludwig Kitz- man exclaimed, "It is Mr. Gluth !" and jumped off the wagon and ran towards him. He spoke with the man about something for quite a while, at which the man dropped on the ground and cried like a baby. Some of the men went to see what his trouble was and found out that he was the father of August Gluth, a little ten-year-old boy who had been a prisoner with the Indians, and that this was the first news he had received that his son was alive.
Before we reached Fort Ridgely a man driving an ox team eanght np with us and took Mrs. Lammers and her two children with him. She was the first prisoner we parted with on the road and many of the women cried when they bade her good-bye. Afterwards I heard that the man was Mr. Rieke and that he married Mrs. Lammers.
At last we reached the fort, tired and hungry. The soldiers marched As into the dining room, where supper was already wating for ns. Soldiers were standing everywhere behind our chairs to see that every little child had enough to eat. It was the first time in ten long weeks that we had eaten at a table like civilized people. When supper was over they took us to another room, where they made up some beds on the floor for us.
The next morning they did not wake us as early as usual. After breakfast some of us children begged Mrs. Krus to let us see little Minnie Smith. She had been turned over to Mrs. Muller for treatment. She consented to take us, and when we arrived at the hospital we found Minnie lying in a niee elean bed with her hair curled as nice as her mother used to enrl it. She opened her blue eyes one moment and smiled. Then she closed them again, as if too tired to keep them open. How badly we felt and all commeneed to cry. The lady who stood at the head of the bed motioned for us to go. It was the last we saw of little Minnie, for two days later she died and her troubles were ended. When we got back the teams were already waiting for us and we started for St. Peter.
On our way to St. Peter we could see people in the field at work here and there, and also a few herds of cattle grazing in the meadows. One place we passed a man was waving his hat and calling to us. The teams stopped to see what he wanted. Presently two men with milk eame up, while the teamsters cheered the men as they came and thanked them, that it was the greatest treat they could give us, for so many of the children had asked for milk. How greedily we drank it, and the men
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smiled as they watched us and said they were sorry that they had no more.
That evening we reached St. Peter, where we were turned loose in an empty store. A fire was burning here, which was a most welcome sight, as we were cold. Some kind person had carried in a few arms of hay for ns to sleep on. We had but little for supper. The town was full of people who had fled from their homes.
The next morning people eame crowding in, bright and early, to look for friends. No one seemed to think of breakfast. Mr. Lang was one of the first to come in. His wife and two children stood just opposite the door. I never saw a more joyful meeting in my life. Those who had no friends were all crying. There was hardly a dry eye in the house. Mary Riefe came in next, dressed in the deepest of mourning. She looked over the crowd and never spoke a word. Sadly she turned to the door and walked out, having found none of her people. She was working away from home, when the Indians had killed nearly all her family and her lover. Afterwards she found two elder brothers who escaped. I held my sister by the hand, as I was afraid some one in the erowd might take her away, and I would not know what had beeome of her.
People were still coming in to elaim friends who were sup- posed to be dead. I could not help watching the door and thinking of the story the teamster had told me, but it was in vain-my father and mother never eame. At last as the crowd was beginning to thin out Rev. Frederic Emde, of the Evan- gelical church, touched me on the shoulder and said he would take me. I told him that I had a little sister with me and wanted him to take her also. Mrs. Emde then came to us and took off her veil and tied it around my sister's head and a little shawl around mine. While I was waiting for them to leave with us, I looked onee more over the crowd. In one eorner lay Ludwig Kitzman talking to a man and boy, and in another corner sat the little brown-faced boy of whom I have spoken before. IIe looked so sad and no one seemed to notice him. Often have I wondered what became of him. Mrs. Inefeld was looking out of the window with tears in her eyes, holding her baby so close to her. Her husband and all her folks had been killed and there was no one to claim her. Henrietta Krieger found her mother afterwards. How pleased she was to see her.
At last Mr. and Mrs. Emde were ready to go. They first took us to a house, where we had breakfast, after which we went to a store to get ns some shoes and stockings. Mr. Emde told him our story, at which he said he would make us a present of what we wanted. When we were dressed as comfortable as they could make us we started for New UIm. It was about noon when we
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left and did not stop until we reached a farm house that evening. The next day we reached John Muhs, a brother of Mrs. Emde, who lived six miles south of New Ulm. Mr. and Mrs. Muhs were my parents for the next two years and my sister stayed with Mr. Emde.
I told Mr. Emde of my brother, and he promised that he would look for him when he went back to St. Peter. He found out that my brother had been picked up in St. Paul by another minister and later was sent to a family near Hutchinson. The man who took my brother was appointed our guardian and received quite a sum of money, about $1,200, for my father's personal property. This was too much for him to let go. As soon as he had everything settled as he wanted it he came to Mr. Muhs and Mr. Emde and asked him to give me and my sister up to him, as he was well off and would adopt us. Finally Mr. Muhs consented and turned us over to him.
When we got to our new home we soon found out that our guardian owned nothing but a farm which he had bought with the money he so cunningly appropriated. As for schooling, we saw but little of it. I do not wish to speak unkindly of my guardian. as he really did not abuse me, and I think he would have done what was right, but he was not well and his wife was at the head of the family. They have both passed away sinee and I will not judge them now. Of my father's property we never received one eent.
When I was fifteen years old I started out in the world alone to earn my own living. After I left them I fell into better hands. I worked out summers and went to school winters. Being already able to read in German, in time I received a fair education. In 1879 I married Owen Carrigan and am the mother of five ehil- dren. My husband died in 1898. As to my sister Amelia, she left our guardian at the age of fourteen and went back to Rev. Emde. She later became Mrs. Reynolds of Minneapolis.
My brother left for Montana at the age of nineteen. When we were at Camp Release he came one day and told me that he had seen all the Indians that were to be hung, but the one who killed onr parents was not among them. Ile cried and said, "Yes, he is a good Indian now. Just wait until I get big, I will hunt Indians the rest of my life and will kill them, too, if I can find them." For two years after we parted he would write to me regularly, but then we heard no more of him. I am inelined to think that he was killed at the time General Custer made his last stand, for that spring I received his last letter.
There are only three places that I would like to see again. One is the large flat lime roek on the bank of the Minnesota river where my brother and I used to go fishing. Years have passed and many a person has elaimed my white roek since. The
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Indians that used to pass us in their canoes so silently they seemed like ghosts, you could hardly hear the dip of their oars, have long since fled from the banks of the river and could not frighten now. The second place is the spring near my father's place, where my playmates and I used to piek the yellow lady- slippers. The third is the ereek near our home where the lovely white cherry blossoms were so thick that they looked like a white sheet. Little Pauline and Minnie Kitzman, my sister Augusta and I brought our aprons full home to make garlands out of them. Years after, when I used to see the white cherry blossoms, I used to wish that I could go back and cover the graves of my little friends with the flowers they loved so well.
"The flowers that bloom in the wildwood Have sinee dropped their beautiful leaves, And the many dear friends of my childhood Have slumbered for years in their graves." 1
1
CHAPTER XIV.
CAPTIVE AMONG THE SIOUX.
Experiences of Mrs. N. D. White, of Beaver Falls-Unrest Among the Indians-News of the Uprising-Desperate Flight-Cap- ture-Wedge Killed-Henderson Injured-Mrs. Henderson and Children Burned-Scenes of Horror-Eugene White Killed-Boy of Twelve Escapes-Captives Taken to Crow's Village-Life Among the Indians-Removal-Incidents of the March-Rescue-Camp Release-Scenes of Delight- Reunion-Retrospection.
The story I bring to you includes what I saw and what occurred to myself and family during the most terrible Indian massacre that was ever known in our fair country. Fifteen thousand square miles of territory were overrun by the savages, and their trails in Minnesota were marked by blood and fire, while men, women and innocent children were indiscriminately butehered or made prisoners.
I was born in the town of Alexander, Genesee county, New York, February 10, 1825, my maiden name being Urania S. Frazer, and I was married to Nathan Dexter White, October 1, 1845. We remained in New York state about two years, and then emigrated to Columbia county, Wisconsin, where we lived fifteen years. In the spring of 1862 we again turned our faces westward, and June 28 found us in Renville county, Minnesota.
Little did we think how soon we should pass through the terrible ordeal that awaited us. We commenced the erection of
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our log cabin at the base of the bluff in the valley of Beaver creek. near its opening into the wide Minnesota river valley. with stout hands and willing minds, looking hopefully forward to better times, for we thought we had selected the very heart of this western paradise for our home. Truly it was beautiful, even in its wild, uneultivated condition, with its gigantic trees in the creek valley, its towering bluffs and the sweet-seented wild flowers. A babbling brook formed a part of the eastern boundary of our land, and its broad acres of prairie made it desirable enough to have satisfied the wishes of the most fastidious lover of a fine farm. We had just got settled in our new log house when the Sioux Indians who lived near us began to be uneasy.
Little Crow's village was situated about six miles from our house, across the Minnesota river. His warriors numbered about eight hundred. These Indians, with their families, by reason of the searcity of buffaloes and other wild game, were largely dependent upon their annuities. They were supplied with pro- visions from the commissary stores at the Lower Sionx Indian Agency, near Little Crow's village, and they also received their annuities from the agent at this point. The summer of that eventful year was to all appearances very favorable to them, so far as erops were concerned. Their many cornfields, of nearly a thousand aeres, bore promise of rich yield. We frequently saw the Indians on the tops of the bluffs overlooking our dwelling. They seemed to be watching for something. When questioned they said they were looking for Ojibways. I think they must have held war meetings or councils, for we often heard drums in the evening on their side of the Minnesota river several weeks before the outbreak.
Reports eame to us that some of the Indians had made a raid upon the commissary stores at the Upper Agency, but we paid little attention to it, thinking it only a rumor.
The annuity was to have been paid in June, but, owing to the Civil war that was then raging between the United and Con- federate States, the money was delayed. The Indians were com- pelled to ward off starvation by digging roots for food. Three or four weeks previous to the outbreak we could see squaws almost every day wandering over the prairie in search of the nutritious roots of the plant known to the French voyageurs as the "pomme de terre." With a small pole about six feet long, having one end sharpened, they dug its tap-root, which they called tipsinah, somewhat resembling a white English turnip in color, taste and shape.
Many of the Indians had pawned their guns for provisions. My husband had taken several in exchange for beef cattle. Among them was Little Crow's gun. This manner of dealing with the white man was not satisfactory to them, and especially
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to be compelled thus to part with their guns was very hard. Knowing the treachery of the Indians, none of us should have been surprised when this desperate outbreak overwhelmed ns. and yet when the eighteenth day of Angust, 1862, came, with its cloudless sky, not one of the scattered settlers was prepared for protection against the carnage which was to overwhohn them.
At this time nearly every Farmer was busy making hay, but my husband fortunately was on a trip to Blue Earth county, about sixty miles southeast of us. I say fortunately, because every inan stood in great danger of being killed, and in all prob- ability that would have been his fate if he had been with us, as no men among the settlers were taken prisoners.
The first outbreak, the attack on our fleeing party, and the beginning of my captivity were on Monday, August 18, and I was released thirty-nine days afterward, on September 26.
While I was busily engaged gathering up the clothing for the purpose of doing my washing on the morning of the out- break, my daughter Julia, fourteen years old, who had been assisting at the house of Mr. Henderson, about a half mile from us, whose wife was very sick, came running in, accompanied by a daughter of J. W. Earle, and breathlessly told me that the Indians were coming to kill us, and that I must go back with them quick. This Frightened me, in fact, it seemed to strike me dumb : but. suddenly recovering my thoughts, I immediately began planning what we should take with us. Soon I came to the conclusion that it would be folly to attempt to take anything. But on moving husband's overcoat I canght sight of a large pocketbook that contained valuable papers and some money. This I quickly secured, and managed to keep it during all my captivity. I caught up my baby, five months old, and placed him on one arm, and took Little Crow's gun in the other hand. My daughter also carried a gun. We hurriedly wended our way to the house of the sick neighbor, and thenee went to the house of Mr. Earle.
There I found my twelve-year-old son Millard, who had been herding sheep. Having learned of the trouble with the Indians, he had driven the sheep up and put them in the yard. Eugene, my oldest son. had gone out on the prairie to bring in our colts, to keep them from the Indians, because they were collecting all the horses in the neighborhood to ride, as they said, in hunting Ojibways, that being the excuse they gave for this bold robbery. Ile found that the Indians had already got the colts and were breaking them to ride, having them in a slough, where they could easily handle them. Consequently he came back to the house of Mr. Earle. On his way back he met Mr. Wichmann, a neighbor just from the agency, who told him that the Indians were killing all the white people there.
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At the house of Mr. Earle twenty-seven neighbors were assem- bled, men, women and children. Teams of horses were soon hitehed to wagons, and we started on our perilous journey.
The Indians, anticipating our flight and knowing the direction we should be likely to take, had secreted themselves in ambush on either side of the road in the tall grass. On our arrival in the ambush twenty or thirty Indians in their war paint rose to their feet ; they did not shoot, but surrounded us, took our horses by the bits, and commanded us to surrender to them all our teams, wagons and everything except the clothing we had on. A parley with them in behalf of the sick woman was had by one of our number who could speak the Sioux language. The Indians finally consented that we might go, if we would leave all the teams, wagons, etc., except one team and a light wagon in which Mrs. Henderson and her two children had been placed on a feather bed.
We felt a little more hopeful at getting such easy terms of escape, but our hopes were of short duration, for they soon beeame dissatisfied with the agreement they had made and gave notice that they must have our last team, and we were forced to stop and comply with their demand. The team was given up and the Indians said we might go. Several men took hold of the wagon and we again started, feeling that there was still a little chance of escape. We had gone only a short distance when we were made fully aware of the treachery that predominates in the Indian character. They commenced shooting at the men drawing the wagon. Mr. Henderson and JJehiel Wedge, in com- plianee with Mrs. Henderson's wishes, held up a pillowslip as a flag of truce, but the Indians kept on firing. The pillowship was soon riddled. Mr. Henderson's fingers on one hand were shot off and Mr. Wedge was killed.
Then commeneed a flight, a run for life, on the open prairie, by men, women and children, unarmed and defenseless, before the cruel savages armed with guns, tomahawks and scalping knives. Imagine, if you can, the awful sight here presented to my view, both before and after being captured-strong men mak- ing desperate efforts to save themselves and their little ones from the scalping knives of their merciless foes, who were in hot pur- suit, shooting at them rapidly as they ran. Before the Indians passed me the bullets were continually whizzing by my head. Those who could escape, and their murderous enemies, were soon out of my sight. In one instance a little boy was shot and killed in his father's arms.
Woe and despair now seized all of us who were made cap- tives. The bravest among us lost courage, being so helpless, defenseless and unprepared for this act of savage warfare. With blanched faces we beheld the horrible seene and clasped our help-
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less little children eloser to us. Then fearful thoughts of torture erowded into our minds, as Mrs. Henderson and her two children were taken rudely from the bed in the wagon, thrown violently on the ground, and covered with the bed, to which a toreh was applied. The blaze grew larger and higher and I could see no more! My courage sank as I wondered in a dazed, half-insane manner what would be our fate and that of other friends. The two little children, I was afterward told, had their heads crushed by blows struck with violins belonging to the family of Mr. Earle. The burial party sent out by General Sibley from Fort Ridgely found the violins, with the brains and hair of the poor little innocents still stieking to them, two weeks later. Mr. Hen- derson was afterward killed at the battle of Bireh Cooley, Sep- tember 2.
Nine of our number were killed here in this flight, among them being our oldest son, Eugene, then abont sixteen years old. Eleven were taken prisoners, among these being myself, my babe and my daughter, fourteen years old.
Seven made their escape, my twelve-year-old son being among them. They started for Fort Ridgely, a distance of twenty miles, thinking that there they would be safe, but, on arriving near the fort, they could see so many Indians skulking around that they thought it extremely dangerous to make any further effort to reach the fort. They then decided to go to Cedar Lake, a distance of thirty miles north. Their boots and shoes were filled with. water in wading through sloughs and became a great burden to them, so that they were compelled to take them off. to expedite their flight. Consequently, in traveling through eoarse wet grass, the flesh on their feet and ankles was worn and laeerated until the bones were bare in places. They could get no food and starvation stared at them with its gnawing pangs. They were hatless in the scorehing sunshine, and were com- pletely worn out by wading through sloughs and hiding in the tall grass: in fact, doing anything to make their escape from the Indians.
When within ten or fifteen miles of Cedar Lake the strongest man of the party was sent ahead for help, to get food for those who were unable to walk much farther. On reaching a rise of ground he turned quickly, motioned to them and then threw himself in the tall grass. The others of the party knew that this meant danger and hid themselves as quickly as possible. Soon sharp reports of guns came to their ears. They supposed, of course, that the young man was killed, but it was not so. These Indians, five in number, had been away on a visit, and conse- quently they had not heard of the massacre. They were return- ing to Little Crow's village. The young man was not seen by these Indians, but the others had been seen before dropping in
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the grass. They fired their guns for the purpose of reloading, and soon tracked the party with whom my son was to their hid- ing places by their trail in the wet grass. My son noticed one of them skulking along on his trail and watching him very intently. He supposed that the Indian would shoot him, so he turned his face away and waited for the bullet that was to take his life. What a terrible moment it was to a lad of only twelve years !
But as no shot was fired he turned his head to see what the Indian was doing. The Indian then asked him what was the matter. Fearing to tell the truth he told him that the Ojibways were killing all the white people in their neighborhood and also told how hungry they were.
The Indians gave them some cold boiled potatoes, turning them on the ground, and asked to trade for Little Crow's gun. which one of the party had received from me. Not daring to refuse, they gave them the gun, which was a very handsome one. The Indians now left them and they managed to reach Cedar Lake, being the first to carry the news of the outbreak to that place. My son traveled from Cedar Lake to St. Peter without further hardship.
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